Millions of bees die every day on highways, study warns of ecological consequences

Millions of them bees are killed every day by cars on the highway, according to a recent study conducted by Utah State University (USU).

While deer and elk, both mammals often threatened by highway vehicles, are protected by conservationists, bees go completely unnoticed due to their small size.

The USU Department of Biologyled by ecologist and researcher Joseph Wilson, has been working to further understand the massive number of bee deaths caused by vehicle collisions.

In the experiment, the research team attached sticky traps to car bumpers and used statistics from the Department of Transportation to further analyze their data. The results suggest that tens of millions of bees are killed every day as drivers drive along highways in the western United States. Wilson, along with several USU alumni, reported their initial discoveries in the Nov. 7 issue Durable Environment.

The study published the following: “On the high end, there could be as many as 4.9 billion bees (dying) in a six-month bee flight season, if average daily traffic values are used.” Trials conducted between 2019 and 2021 by USU Tooele researchers made the collection of this data possible.

A honey bee on a leaf. (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Wilson said: “Bees play a vital role in our ecosystem. The consequences of their frequent collisions with vehicles extend far beyond a minor travel inconvenience. In fact, the consequences of bee deaths … could have a greater negative impact than we realized.”

More important than we realize

The quality of roadside habitat directly influences whether animals are able to stay on their side or decide to cross the road in search of better foraging areas. Wilson suggests that both public management and private organizations should create plantings along roads and medians.

“This may not be the best solution in all areas if those who plant plants encourage insects to cross the road to access those resources,” says Professor Wilson. The question that arises is how to create a friendly shelter for bees without endangering them further.

Wilson believes more research is needed to better understand how road design can be less harmful to these pollinators. Still, he believes that with awareness and concerted efforts, landscapes along highways can be “restored” to support bee populations.

Professor Wilson said: “Bees are important species that support plant diversity and reproduction. Understanding how we can support pollinators… is an important step toward protecting these important insects.”

The Environment and Climate Change portal is produced in collaboration with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Jerusalem Post maintains all editorial decisions regarding content.